Camp Tampa

Camp Tampa (1898-1898) - The primary Spanish American War organization and embarkation camp in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, established in 1898. Abandoned in 1898.

Spanish American War Memorial Marker and Gun	Tampa Bay Hotel Marker
Tampa Bay Hotel Headquarters of the 5th Army Corps in 1898

History of Camp Tampa

Theodore Roosevelt on right, Leonard Wood is next to him and former Civil War Confederate General, Joseph Wheeler is next to Wood at Camp Tampa 1898

Tampa was originally designated along with New Orleans and Mobile as an embarkation point for the expected invasion of Cuba during the Spanish American War. New Orleans and Mobile proved to be unhealthy spots for large numbers of troops and Tampa became the main port. The Tampa area became the organizing place for the 5th Army Corps which was composed mainly of regular troops (about 33,000 troops per Corps). Later the 4th Army Corps that was originally organized at Camp Wheeler moved to Tampa, taking over the camp sites left vacant by the departed invasion force.

As the troops arrived at Tampa a series of tent camps were established to house them, Camp Tampa was the primary camp. Regular Army regimental camps were located in Tampa Heights on both the east and west sides of Florida Avenue. Headquarters was located at the Tampa Bay Hotel. The composition of the initial invasion force was set by which regiments were ordered to Tampa and the vast majority of those were regular U.S. Army regiments. A few state volunteer regiments were included and one regiment of the U.S. Volunteers, the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, known as Colonel Teddy Roosevelt's "Rough Riders".

Chaotic conditions at the port of Tampa made orderly loading of troops, equipment and supplies impossible and by the time the the invasion fleet was ordered to sail not all units were able to board the transports. Troops C, H, I and M of the Rough Riders were among those left behind.

Additional Camps at Tampa

Camp at Palmetto Beach - 1st Florida Volunteer Infantry Camp Florida (name Change) Camp Desoto (name Change) Camp Mitchell Camp Rogers - Artillery Camp Wrenn - near Port Tampa City Fort Brooke

Regular Army Camps at Tampa

West of Florida Ave	East of Florida Ave
5th U.S. Infantry 17th U.S. Infantry 21st U.S. Infantry 4th U.S. Infantry	6th U.S. Infantry 9th U.S. Infantry 10th U.S. Infantry 13th U.S. Infantry 22nd U.S. Infantry 24th U.S. Infantry

5th Army Corps Units at Camp Tampa

1st Division	2nd Division	3rd Division
1st Brigade 6th U.S. Infantry 16th U.S. Infantry 71st New York Volunteer Infantry 2nd Brigade 2nd U.S. Infantry 10th U.S. Infantry 21st U.S. Infantry 3rd Brigade 9th U.S. Infantry 13th U.S. Infantry 24th U.S. Infantry	1st Brigade 8th U.S. Infantry 22nd U.S. Infantry 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 2nd Brigade 1st U.S. Infantry 4th U.S. Infantry 25th U.S. Infantry 3rd Brigade 7th U.S. Infantry 12th U.S. Infantry 17th U.S. Infantry	1st Brigade 3rd U.S. Cavalry 6th U.S. Cavalry 9th U.S. Cavalry 2nd Brigade 1st U.S. Cavalry 10th U.S. Cavalry 10th U.S. Cavalry Mountain Gun Det. 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Artillery Battalion 1st U.S. Artillery, Bty E & K 2nd U.S. Artillery, Bty A & F

Current Status

The Tampa Bay Hotel remains in operation and the building has pictures and memorabilia from the Spanish American War period. A large breech loading cannon is placed as a monument to the Spanish American War troops and fortifications in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida.

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Location: Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida. Maps & Images Lat: 27.968407 Long: -82.465239 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....'

Sources:

Links:

• North American Forts - Camp Tampa
• U.S. Gen Net - Camp Tampa

Visited: 22 Dec 2009

Camp Tampa Picture Gallery

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